Mobile communication system, location manager and routing manager

• US 7,519,025 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiyama, Satoshi, Yamashita, Masashi, Suzuki, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mais, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/764,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/338, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/469, 370/474, 370/475, 370/476
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

Use of finite wireless resources is minimized when paging is performed to an MN, even if a location manager does not retain correct location area information for the reason that a mobile router (MR), which performs location update (LU) on behalf of mobile nodes (MNs) existing in the space in a moving body, does not send an LU signal because it is active, for example. A flag indicating whether an MR#1 is dormant or active is retained in a location manager LM#1. When paging is performed to an MN#2 which is in a master-slave relationship with the MR#1, the LM#1 refers to the flag to determine the state of the MR#1. When the MR#1 is active, the LM#1 inquires of a routing manager RM#1 about routing address information for the MR#1 and performs paging using the information. Thus, it is possible to perform paging to the MN#2 which is in a master-salve relationship with the MR#1, without the MR#1, which is moving in an active state, sending an LU signal.

Claims

1. A cellular communication system wherein a mobile communication service area is divided into a plurality of location registration areas, the cellular communication system comprising:

a mobile router and at least one mobile node, moving in a moving body and in a master-slave relationship, the mobile router performing location update of the mobile node that does not perform the location update, if the mobile node is an a dormant state;

a unit for retaining a flag indicating whether the mobile router is in an active state or a dormant state;

a unit for inquiring about routing address information of the mobile router in an active state based on a value of the retained flag when paging is performed to at least one of the mobile nodes; and

a unit for performing paging to the at least one mobile node, using the obtained routing address information of the mobile router in an active state as a result of the inquiry.

2. The cellular communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for setting the flag to a first value indicating an active state in response to a first signal sent from the mobile node and indicating start of communication, and setting the flag to a second value indicating a dormant state in response to a second signal sent from the mobile node and indicating end of communication.

3. A cellular communication system wherein a mobile communication service area is divided into a plurality of location registration areas, the cellular communication system comprising:

a mobile router and at least one mobile node, moving in a moving body and in a master-slave relationship, the mobile router performing location update of the mobile node that does not perform the location update, if the mobile node is in a dormant state;

a routing manager; and

a location manager,

the routing manager comprising;

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router; and

a unit for, when the routing address information for the mobile router in the table is updated, notifying the updated routing address information to the location manager; and

the location manager comprising;

a table for storing the routing address information notified by the routing manager as location area information of the mobile router in an active state; and

a unit for performing paging to at least one of the mobile nodes using the location area information of the mobile router in an active state stored in the table.

4. A location manager for use in a cellular

communication system wherein a mobile communication service area is divided into a plurality of location registration areas, and a mobile router in a dormant state moving with a plurality of mobile nodes in a dormant state, the mobile router performing location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes that do not perform the location update, the location manager comprising:

a unit for retaining a flag indicating whether the mobile router is in an active state or a dormant state;

a unit for inquiring about routing address information of the mobile router based on a value of the retained flag when paging is performed to at least one of the mobile nodes; and

a unit for performing paging to at least one of the mobile nodes in a master-slave relationship with the mobile router, using the routing address information of the mobile router in an active state obtained as a result of the inquiry.

5. The location manager according to claim 4 further comprising a unit for setting the flag to a first value indicating an active state in response to a first signal sent from the mobile node and indicating a start of communication, and setting the flag to a second value indicating a dormant state in response to a second signal sent from the mobile node and indicating an end of communication.

6. A location manager for use in a cellular

communication system wherein a mobile communication service area is divided into a plurality of location registration areas, and a mobile router in a dormant state moving with a plurality of mobile nodes in a dormant state, the mobile router performing location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes that do not perform the location update, the location manager comprising:

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router, which is notified from a routing manager whenever the routing address information is updated, as location area information for the mobile router; and

a unit for performing paging to at least one of the mobile nodes in a master-slave relationship with the mobile router, using the location area information of the mobile router in an active state stored in the table.

7. A routing manager used for a cellular communication system wherein a mobile communication service area is divided into a plurality of location registration areas, and a mobile router in a dormant state moving with a plurality of mobile nodes in a dormant state, the mobile router performing location update of the mobile nodes in a master-slave relationship with the mobile router, on behalf of the mobile nodes that do not perform the location update, the routing manager comprising:

a table for storing routing address information of the mobile router in an active state; and

a unit for replying the routing address intonation stored in the table in response to an inquiry from a location manager about the routing address information for the mobile router in an active state.

8. A routing manager used for a cellular communication system wherein a mobile communication service area is divided into a plurality of location registration areas, and a mobile router in a dormant state moving with a plurality of mobile nodes in a dormant state, the mobile router performing location update of the mobile nodes in a master-slave relationship with the mobile router, on behalf of the mobile nodes that do not perform the location update, the routing manager comprising:

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router in an active state; and

a unit for, when the routing address information for the mobile router in an active state in the table is updated, notifying the updated routing address information to a location manager.